Olweus Class Meeting 03/18/14 Grades 6 & 7 What can the Pennies for Patients program teach us about empathy?

Pennies for Patients Video Clip  We will begin this class meeting by watching a video clip about the Pennies for Patients Program.  Please look at home for spare change …that change CAN make a difference!  (running time 9:00)

What is Empathy?  Think back to the “Pennies for Patients” video clip you just watched….how did you feel seeing children who have leukemia? Did you feel empathetic toward the children who are fighting leukemia?  What is empathy?  Empathy is identifying with the thoughts, feelings, or emotions of another person, especially in times of distress. It’s like “walking in someone else’s shoes.”

Empathy Discussion Points  Describe a time when someone showed empathy toward you.  Describe a time when you missed an important opportunity to show empathy toward another.  Often, we find it easier to feel empathy toward some people than others.

Empathy Activity  Look at the signs that are posted around the room.  As I read the following statements, please get up and stand by the sign to show how easy or difficult you believe it would be to show empathy for :  A good friend  Someone who is less popular than you are  Someone who is very popular  Someone you don’t know who is being teased  Someone you don’t like  Someone who has hurt your feelings in the past  Someone who is the same age as you  Someone who is five years older than you  Someone who is five years younger than you  Someone you don’t see very often  Someone famous who experienced a tragedy  Someone your age who has leukemia or other type of blood cancer.  A neighbor  Victims of war in another country  Someone who looks like you  Someone who looks different from you (different race, gender, or ethnicity)

Post-Activity Discussion  Please return to your seats.  Why do you think it’s easier to feel empathy for someone we like versus someone we don’t like – or someone who may have hurt us in the past?  How does empathy help control our words and actions toward others?  What role does empathy play in bullying situations?  How can we show empathy toward those who are being bullied?  What would be an impact of either high or low levels of empathy for the person being bullied from bystanders?

Wrap - Up  Empathy is a powerful tool for learning to get along with others. Feeling and showing empathy is especially important in helping to stop bullying. It takes careful listening and observation to learn to see things from someone else’s point of view.  Showing empathy may also take a lot of courage, especially when people’s lives or experiences are very different from our own. I want to challenge each of you to think of ways you can show empathy to someone this week.  Don’t forget to collect spare change for Pennies for Patients….you CAN make a difference!